Mobilization of bone marrow cells by CSF3 protects mice from bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Background: Bone marrow-derived cells may play a role in tissue injury and repair. Growth factors facilitate the mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells to the site of injury.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the mobilization of autologous bone marrow-derived cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF3) on bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice.

Methods: The bone marrow from male green fluorescent protein transgenic (C57Bl/6J) mice was transplanted into irradiated female C57Bl/6J mice. Bleomycin lung injury was induced in these bone marrow-reconstituted mice and unreconstituted C57Bl/6J mice, and some mice were treated with recombinant CSF3. Lung histology, survival, cytokine expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression were evaluated to determine the effect of CSF3 after bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Results: Histology and flow cytometry analysis showed successful mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells by CSF3 treatment in the recipient lungs. Importantly, CSF3 attenuated bleomycin-induced lung injury and improved survival. Furthermore, CSF3 administration regulated transforming growth factor-β, interferon-γ, MMP9 and tissue inhibitors of MMP1 expression during bleomycin injury.

Conclusions: These data demonstrated that the mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells by CSF3 has a protective effect against bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis.